The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-03-25
A TRUE OFFERING.
Dnly's Generous Act in Place of
Easter Gifts.

"What are you going to draw, Dilly?'
Chatty Arkwright's little plain face
looked thin and sharp with anxiety as
she asked the question.
I've been thinking about drawing
Crumple and her new calf, but haven't
quite decided" answered Oily.
Chatty's face rounded and bright
ened. Il think you draw cows very
nicely" she said. q Oh, Oily. Tn
so afraid l shan't do we'll! My uncle
says that if win the prize he will send
me to the city to learn to be a real art
ist"
1t was strange to see Chatty eager
and flushed with hope; she was usually
so pale and detected. She was lame,
and her uncle, her only relative, was a
misery old man. 1t was n wonder
every body said, that she had been al
lowed to go to the academy, she was so
poorly clothed and scantily fed.
"There are only two or three girls
whom / am afraid of, =" continued Chat
ty. sometimes you do a great deal
better than /. d" Her voice trembled
Chow much she caresr' Oily said to
herself, watching Chatty rs she stumped
away on her crutch. Il didn't think
she had any ambition"
Oily herself had agreat deal of am
bition. She was fairly tingling to her
tinger-tips now with the excitement of
the contest for the prize that had been
offered to her class in the Cherryfield
Academy for the best drawing from ma
ture. 1t was not only the pleasure of
excelling that moved Oily now, al
though that was very dear to her heart;
she wanted the prize, which was five
dollars in money, for particular pur-
pose. She had Overrun her allowance,
and been bankrupt ever since Christ
mas, and had been forced to borrow so
much of Sydney, her brother, that ii
would take almost all her next quar-
ter's allowance to repay him. sgd
ney was not r. pleasant person
to borrow of. He was very wise and
prudent himself, and always "saved
up He said money burned a hole in
Dilly's pocket, and he quoted Poor
Richard maxims, which were very
wise and good, of course, but seemed
very personal if you had sweet tooth
that would draw you like n magnet to
the candy shop, and if your quarter
allowance never could be made TO last
more than n month. 1t was q very
small allowance, Oily thought, but
Syd said it was large, considering there
were nine children, and 1t was more
than girls needed, anyway, and just see
how much Margery savedr'
Margery was fifteen and half, two
years older than Oily; she had been
saving all winter, in spite of Christmas
and every thing, to give toward tho
new chancel window that was to be
placed in the church. 1t was expected
that the offerings of the coming Easter
would amount to enough to buy it.
Miss Sylvester. Dilly's Sunday School
teacher, had said that she hoped her
pupils would deny themselves, and
make their Easter offerings as large rs
possible. If Oily didn't get the prize,
She wouldn't have n single cent for an
Easter offering.
She went to the barn as soon as she
reached home to take another survey OF
old Crumple and her new calf, and
make up her mind as to their picturs
esaue possibilities.
She seated herself upon an inverted
cask and went TO work at once. Crum-
pie was a very obliging model, but the
new calf was frisky and would not keep
still. He had a queer, scraggy body,
set up on four knobby, stilt-like legs.
He had no tail to speak of, and seemed
10 be all ears.
It was a warm afternoon in March,
tho first spIing-like day Of the year.